Apparatus for handling glass sheets



' 29 1927. 1622 March H. K. HITCHCOCK APPARATUS FOR HANDLING GLASSSHEETS Eiled June 9, 1926 5 sheets sheet 1 Ian- FIG

/N VEN T013 1,622,380 March 1927' H. K. HITCHCOCK APPARATUS FOR HANDLING GLASS SHEETS Filed June 9. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIME/V701? APPARATUSFOR HANDLING GLASS SHEETS Filed June 9, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR 21927. March H. K. HITCHCOCK APPARATUS FOR HANDLING GLASS SHEETS FiledJune 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 29, 1927. H K Hncncock APPARATUS FORHANDLING GLASS SHEETS 5 sheets she et 5 H t kw. MK mm 9 Em m m i in: in:1 mam... m m M g 1 v .0

Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

"ii 1a UNITE. STATES PATENT OFF/ICE,

HALBEBT HITCI-ICOCK, 10F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PITTS-BURG-H PLATE GLASS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FORI-IANDLING'GLASS SHEETS.

Application filed June 9, 1926.

The invention relates to apparatus for of, the

handling and turning over glass plates. The apparatus is designedpartlcularly for-picking up glass plates from one car or carrier upon atrack, lifting it vert cally fronrthe said car or carrier high enough toclear the workmen, then carrying it laterally above the workmen to aposition above a secondcaruor vcarrieron asecond parallel track anddepositing it on a second handling apparatus, that turns the glass plateover, lowers it, and deposits it onto the second car or carrier.

The invention has for its objects the pro vision of improved means foraccomplishing thefunction as above set forth, but, in'particular, thenovel means for turning over, lowering and depositingthe glassplate'sonto the second carrier bytheuse ofbut one driving means.Oneembodiment,of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1. is an end view of the apparatus in the direction of the arrowsat the-line 1-1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus withsome of the detail construction omitted so as to show the, vacuum framesclearly. Fig. 3is a section on the linellII-Tll of Fig. 1, but shows thestrapping frame. raised in position ready to travel laterally over theworkmen to the position over the second track. Fig. 4 is an enlargedsideview ofthe sliding crosshead which controls the turning over. Fig. 5is a, plan view of the crosshead shown in Fig. Fig, 6 is asectionthrough the end of the turn overframe mounting on the line Vl-VI-of Fig.7. And Fig. 7 is a section through the end of thev turnover framemounting on the line VTIVH of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and2 are a pair of parallel tracks uponeachof which is mounted a series of cars orcarr1ers3, 4, such carsserving as a=1neans for carrying the sheets of glass, secured to theirtops, beneath a series of grinding and polishing machines as set:forthin the FoX..Pa tent No. 1,554,804. The track. 2 is a return track uponwhich the cars carrying the glass, one side of whlch has been ground andpolished, are returned tothe start-' ing end of the system, while track1 extends beneath a secondseries of grind ng and polishing machines. Theapparatus Serial N0..114,643.

present application is designed to lift the sheets, having their, upper;sides ground and polished, vertically .froinrthe cars/l toa positionhigh enough topass over the. workmens heads, thcnlaterally to aposition, over the. car The, sheets are then deposited-onto a secondhandling apparatus; that turnsthe; sheets over and lowers them -to thetable 3 where the T are set in plaster of Paris in theusualmanner.

. Extending longitudinallyof the, tracks is a-crane runwayconsistingofthe beams 43,5 and upon this runway or track, \is mounted. a craneframeworlcconsisting of the longitudinal beams or girders .6, 6, andthe. transverse beams 7, 7, 7, 7, the. frame.- work being-supported uponsuitable wheels 8, 8. The wheels are connected. by the transverse shafts9,,9and are driven by a suit-able motor 10 through the compound gearing11, 12, Band the gear 14 mounted on the left hand shaft 9 (Fig. 3).

Atthe right hand end of the. craneisthe vacuum lifting device 15 forliftingthe sheets of glass from the return car 4 or for lifting newsheets from a table that is mounted over the cars 4-. This table is notshown, but it is a stationary structure, under which the series ofreturncars l may pass. The sheets of glass as they are cutfrom thecontinuously formed ribboncan be packed on, this table andas a new sheetis needed in thelaying operation, the crane canpick it up, carry it overand lay it on one of the cars 3, as before described. The lifting device15 is ofthe telescope design and the stationary cage 16 issupportedbythe beams 17, .17, and tiedtogether by the horizontal beams 18, 18(Figs. 2 and 3). It is carried onthe transverse; tracks 19, 19 mountedon top of the beams 7 by :the wheels 20 20, driven by a longitudinalshaft 21 by means ofythe mot-M22, reducer23, and, spur gearing 2a, 25,26 and the gear 27 mounted on the shaft 21. A sliding cage 28, mountedinside of thecage l6 issupported by the cable 29, one. end secured at 30(Fig. 1) to the beam 17 and fed down over the sheave the pinion 38, thereducer 39 and the motor 4H). The sliding cage 28 is supported from theyoke 34: by means of the pivot a1 connected to the bottom of such cage.The frame 15 is thus raised and lowered slowly by the cable 29. Mountedto the bottom of the sliding cage 28 by means of the brackets 42 is amultiple cup vacuum frame 43, comprised of a longitudinal beam 44:carried in the brackets 42. Bolted to the beam 4 1 are the vacuum cupbrackets 45 at the end of which are bolted the vacuum cups 46. Thesecups are mounted loosely and are provided with a vertical movement, asshown at 65 (Fig. 7), in order to compensate for irregularities in thesheets to be handled. The vacuum is supplied by the vacuum pump n drivenby the motor 48; and connected to the tank 49, to which the suction isapplied. It is controlled from the operators cage 50 by the valve 51,the control pipe 52 leading to the distributing pipes 53, which areconnected to the vacuum cups as, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The vacuumlifting apparatus 15 is designed to travel laterally on the tracks 19carried by the main crane beams 7, 7, so that it can run directly overthe turnover frame 5% in order to deposit the sheet of glass thereon.The control mechanism of the lifting frame 15 is so arranged and timedthat the frame must be raised vertically to a position high enough toclear the platform 55 before any lateral movement can be started. Thisprovides against accidents that might occur from the frame 15 travelinglaterally before it is up high enough to clear the platform 55.

feferring to .Fig. 1, the vacuum turnover and laying apparatus iscarried on the left hand side of the main crane, the center line 56 ofthe turnover frame 5 being in line with the center line of the tracks 1and the table 3. The guide frame castings 61, 61 are bolted to thetransverse beams 7, 7, 7, 7 and the platform structure by means of thehangers 57, 57, 57, 57. The longitudinal beams 58, 58, 58 form a meansfor supporting the turnover drive and the platform 55. The turnover andlaying apparatus is composed of two vertical telescoping members, one ateach end of the crane, composed of bearing castings or members 59, 59mounted on the ends of the pipes 60, 60 that slide vertically in thecastings 61, 61. The frame 54. is mounted in the bearing members 59, 59and is rotated and lifted by the chains 75, 75 passing around thesprockets 74, 74: on the turnover shaft or pivot 62 (Figs. 6 and 7).This shaft is carried in the bearings 59 and carries the vacuum cupbrackets 63, at each end of which are supported the vacuum cups 64.

These cups are provided with a slight vertical movement shown at 65 toallow for slight variations in the sheets. The vacuum cups are connectedfrom the vacuum pipe 66 (Fig. 7) by means of the branch pipes 67, therubber hose members 68 and the pet cock connections 69, which enable theworkmen to disengage any vacuum cup on the frame at any time to allowfor broken sheets. The shaft 62 hollow and the vacuum pipe 66 is carriedinto the center through the centering spider 71, thus reducing to aminimum the twisting on the vacuum hose 72. Secured to the ends of theshaft 62 by means of the keys 73 are the sprockets 74, carried in thebearings 59 in such a way that the chains 75 can be fed down the lefthand pipes 60 (Fig. 1) around the sprockets 7 1-, and back up throughthe right hand pipe 60 to the operating mechanism, mounted above.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4L and 5, the turnover and laying drive comprisesthe motor 76, the silent chain drive 77, the worm reducer 78, mounted onthe stand 79. The horizontal shaft 80 carries two crank discs 81, 81,upon each of which is mounted a crank pin 82, to which is connected therods 83. Each of these rods is pivoted at to a lever 84 pivoted at 86 tothe platform 55 by the brackets 87. The upper end of each lever 8 T isforked and carries a crosshead 88 (Figs. 4 and 5), to which it issecured by the pivot. 89. The pivots 89 also act as a means forattaching the clevices 90 to the levers 84. Attached to the end of eachclevice 90, by means of an adjusting turn buckle 91, is one end of theturnover chain 75.

The crossheads 88 alehollow and provide guides for slidably holding therods 93, which are provided at the left hand ends with shoulders orstops 94., to which are connected the adjusting turnbuckles 95. Eyebolts 96 in the ends of the turnhuckles provide the connections for theother end of the chains 75. The right hand ends of the rods 93 areattached at 97 to chains 98, carrying the counterweights 99 at theirother ends. The levers 84. move back and forth in the direction of thearrows (Figs. 1 and 4) in performing the turnover and laying operation,and are actuated by the rods 63 from the crank discs 81, 81.

Referring to Fig. 1, the turnover and laying frame 541 is in the layingposition with the vacuum cups placing a sheet of glass 110 on the table3. The vacuum frame 5 1 is held in a horizontal position or againstrotation on the shaft 62 by means of the counterweights 99, the chains98, which support such counterweight passing over the sheave pulleys 100carried in the brackets 101 supported by the main crane beams 7. Thecounterweights pull the shoulders 94 on the rods 93 tight against theends of the crossheads at 102 4). This causes the chains 75 to be pulledtight around the sprockets 74, thusholding' the frame in a horizontalposition by'thegravity action of the counterweights 99, 99. After theglass. has been laid on the table 3, the motor 76 is started and thecrank discs 81 rotate in the direction of the'arrow, or to the right,thus pushing the rods 83 and the levers 84 to the right and causing thecrossheads 88 to move to the right. Due to the gravity action of thecounterweights 99, 99, the chains move to the right over the sheavewheels1103, 104-carried on the top of the guide casting 61, thus liftingthe frame 54 vertically and holding it inahorizontal position. After thelevers 84 travel to theright a distance far enough to lift the frame5411p, so as to clear the table 3, while turning over witha sheet ofglass, the top of thebearing 59 come in contact with the bottom oftheguide casting 61 (Fig. 1). This stops the vertical movement of theframe 54, but the=levers 84 continue to move over to the right. Thisextra travel pulls the left hand side ofthe chain .75 through theclevice 90, thus moving the rod 93'and chain 98 to theleft'and raisingthe counterweight- 99. This-movement of the chain causes the frame 54 torotate on the shaft 62 in the direction of the arrows,shown around thecenter y. After the lever 84 hastraveled to its extreme right handpositiou, as shown (dotted) at'105 1), the frame 54 is in the dottedline position 106 with the vacuum cups turned up ready toreceive-another sheet of glass from the frame 15.

The vacuum lifting frame 15 now picks the glass up fromthe car4, or fromthe storage table heretofore referred to, and raises it vertically tothe dotted line position 109 (Fig. 1). It then carries it laterally overthe platform 55 (which serves to protect the men working in the layingand turnover yard) to a position directly above the table 3 and abovethe dotted line po-' sition 106 of'the inverted vacuum frame 54; Thesheet of glass is released from the frame 15, allowing it to drop ontothe'frame 54, after whichthe vacuum is applied bymeans of the valve 197and the pipe 108. The frame 15 then travels back to the dottedlinepositiori 109 ready to pick up another sheet of glass. Upon startingthe motor 76, the lever 84 starts to move toward the left, thusreleasing the tension on the clevice and allowing the chain 98 and rod93 to move to the right and rotate the frame 54 through 180 degrees tobring the glass down. After the rod 93 travels to the right a givendistance while the crosshead 88 travels to the left, the shoulder 94 onthe rod engages the end of the cross head at 102, thus stopping therotation of the frame 54, the stop in conjunction with thecounterweights 99, holding it in a horizontal position. The

lever 84 continues to 'movestill .further to the left, and this movement:then lowers' the whole frame54 down over the table 33, after which thevacuum is released andthe plate drops down onto the table covered withplaster of Paris for holding it firmly'inposition. The parts areproportioned :and adjusted so that the crank discs 81, 81 trave1 overthrough an are 3 of 180 degrees and back during this operation;-

The controls for manipulating thestripping, laying, and turnover craneand frame are carried in the cab50 supported from:

the main crane beams 7, 7, 7, 7 and the guard platform 55, this cab"being locatedonthe guard platform and at the: centerof the crane so asto give the operatorl agood view of all the operations and adds to theefficiency o'f' the apparatus. The apparatus has been described in theoperation of shifting the glass sheets frointhe cars 4, inverting themand placin g'themuponthe cars 3, but it will be obvious that tliisoperation may be reversed, if desired, the sheets being lifted from thecaret), inverted, and then placed upon the cars -4.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In combination in-apparatus-formov ing glass sheets-to and from asurfacing table and inverting them, whichconsists of a vacuum framemounted above-the table for vertical movement toward "and from the tableand for movement'around a horizontal axis to' invert the frame,-powermeans formoving the frame vertically, and automatic means operated bysaid power meansfor causing the vacuum frame to rotate about said axisto bring it to inverted position when the frame has moved upward apredetermined distance.

2. In combination in zip )aratus for mov ingglass sheets to and rom asurfacing table and-invertingthem, which consists of a vacuum framemounted above the tablefor vertical movement'towa-rdan'd from the tableand for movement around a-horizonta'l axis'to invert the'frame. powermeans for:

moving the frame vertically, and automatic means operated by saidpower'means for: causing the vacuum frame to rotate about; said axis tobring it to inverted position when the frame has moved upward apredetermined distance, the said means being operative to turn the framebackito its first position when the frame is lowered.

3. In combination in apparatus for moving glass sheets to and from asurfacing table and inverting them, which consists of a vacuum framemounted above the table for vertical movement toward and from the tableand for movement around a horizontal axis to invert the frame, powermeans for moving the frame vertically, stop means for limiting theupward movement of the frame, and means actuated by the continued operation of the power means, after the upward movementof the frame isstopped, for causing itto rotate about said axis to bring it to invertedposition.

4. In combination in apparatus for moving glass sheets to and from asurfacing table and inverting them, which consists of a vacuum framemounted above the table for vertical movement toward and from the tableand for movement around a horizontal axis to invertthe frame, powermeans for moving the frame vertically, stop means for limiting theupward movement of the frame, and means actuated by the continuedoperation of the power means, after the upward movement of the frame isstopped, for causing it to rotate about said axis to bring it toinverted position, said means being operative on a further movement ofthe power means, to turn the frame back to its first position ofrotation preliminary to lowering it bodily to its starting positionadjacent the table.

5, In combination in apparatus for moving glass sheets to and from asurfacing table and inverting them, which consists of a vacuum framemounted above the table for vertical movement toward and from the tableand for movement around a horizontal axis to invert the frame,powermeans for moving the frame vertically, a wheel member carried by theframe for rotating it, a flexible supporting member looped around saidwheel member with its two parts or sides extending upwardly, meansincluding a power device for moving both of said sides of said loopmember upward together to lift the frame without rotating it, means forstopping the upward movement of the frame, and means whereby thecontinued actuation of the flexible supporting member by the power meansgives it a bodily longitudinal movement to rotate the wheel member andinvert the frame.

6. In combination in apparatus for moving glass sheets to and from asurfacing table and inverting them, which consists of a vacuum framemounted above the table for vertical movement toward and from the tableand for movement around a horizontal axis to invert the frame, powermeans for moving the frame vertically, a wheel member carried by theframe for rotating 1t, a flexible supporting member looped around saidwheel member, with its two parts or sides extending upwardly, means formoving both sides of the loop member upward together, including apowerdevice connected to one of saidsides and a counterweight connectedtothe'other side, means for stopping the upward movement of the frame,and means whereby the continued actuation of said power means gives theflexible member a bodily movement in the direction of its length, thuslifting the counterweight and rotating said wheel member to invert saidframe. r

7. In combination in apparatus for moving glass sheets to and from asurfacing table and inverting them, which consists of a vacuum framemounted above the table for vertical movement toward and from the tableand" for movement around a horizontal axis to invert the frame, powermeans for moving the frame vertically, a wheel member carried by theframe for rotating it, a flexible supporting memberlooped around saidwheel member with its two parts or sides extending upwardly, means formoving both sides of the loop member upward together, including a powerdevice attached to one of said sides positively and to the other sidewith a lost motion connection, a counterweight also attached to saidother side, means for'stopping the upward movement of the frame, andmeans whereby the continued actuation of said power means gives theflexible member a bodily movement in the direction of its length, thuslifting the counterweight and rotating said wheel member to invert saidframe.

8. In combination in apparatus for moving glass sheets to and from asurfacing table and inverting them, which consists of a vacuum framemounted abot e the table for vertical movement toward and from the tableand for movement around a horizontal axis to invert the frame, and powermeans and connections arranged to move the frame upwardly apredetermined distance-without any movement of rotation and .thenupon afurther forward movement of said power means to give the frame amovement of rotation about said axis to invert it.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8th day ofJune,

HALBERT K. I-IITCHCOCIL

